Superior Markets, Inc., operates three stores in a large metropolitan area. A segmented absorption costing income statement for the company for the last quarter is given below:
Superior Markets. Inc.
Income Statement
For the Quarter Ended September 30
Sales
Cost of goods sold
Gross margin
Selling and administrative
expenses:
Selling expenses
Administrative expenses
Total expenses
Net operating income (loss)
Total
$ 3.000.000
1.657.200
1.342.800
817.000
383.000
1.200.000
$ 142.800
North Store
$ 720.000
403.200
316.800
231.400
106.000
337.400
$ (20.600)
South Store
$ 1.200.000
660.000
540.000
315.000
150.900
465.900
$ 74.100
East Store
$ 1.080.000
594.000
486.000
270.600
126.100
396.700
$ 89.300
The North Store has consistently shows losses over the past two years. For this reason, management is giving consideration to closing the store. The company has asked you to make a recommendation as to whether the store should be closed or kept open. The following additional information is available for your use: a. The breakdown of the selling and administrative expenses is as follows:
Selling expenses:
Sales salaries
Direct advertising
General advertising
Store rent
Depreciation of store fixtures
Depreciation of delivery
equipment
Total selling expenses
Total
$ 239.000
187.000
45.000
300.000
16.000
9.000
$ 817.000
North Store
$ 70.000
51.000
10.800
85.000
4.600
3.000
$ 231.400
South Store
$ 89.000
72.000
18.000
120.000
6.000
3.000
$ 315.000
East Store
$ 80.000
64.000
16.200
95.000
5.400
3.000
$ 270.600
Administrative expenses:
Store management salaries
General office salaries
Insurance on fixture and inventory
Utilities
Employment taxes
General office-other
Total administrative expenses
Total
$ 70.000
50.000
25.000
106.000
57.000
75.000
$ 383.000
North Store
$ 21.000
12.000
7.500
31.000
16.500
18.000
$ 106.000
South Store
$ 30.000
20.000
9.000
40.000
21.900
30.000
$ 150.900
East Store
$ 19.000
18.000
8.500
35.000
18.600
27.000
$ 126.100
b. The lease on the building housing the North Store can be broken with no penalty. c. The fixtures being used in the North Store would be transferred to the other two stores if the North Store were closed. d. The general manager of the North Store would be retained and transferred to another position in the company if the North Store were closed. She would be filling a position that would otherwise be filled by hiring a new employee at a salary of $11,000 per quarter. The general manager of the North Store would be retained at her normal salary of$12.000 per quarter. All other employees in the store would be discharged. e. The company has one delivery crew that serves all three stores. One delivery person could be discharged if the North Store were closed. This person's salary is $4,000 per quarter. The delivery equipment would be distributed to the other stores. The equipment does not wear out through use, but does eventually become obsolete. f. The company's employment taxes are 15% of salaries. g. One-third of the insurance in the North Store is on the store's fixtures. h. The "General office salaries" mid "General office-other" relate to the overall management of Superior Markets, Inc. If the North Store were closed, one person in the general office could be discharged because of the decrease in overall workload. This person's compensation is$6.000 per quarter. 1. Prepare a schedule showing the change in revenues and expenses and the impact on the company's overall net operating income that would result if the North Store were closed. 2. Assuming that the store space can't be subleased, what recommendation would you make to the management of Superior Markets, Inc.? 3. Disregard requirement 2. Assume that if the North Store were closed, at least one-fourth of its sales would transfer to the East Store, due to strong customer loyalty to Superior Markets. The east Store has enough capacity to handle the increased sales. You may assume that the increased sales in the East Store would yield the same gross margin as a percentage of sales as present sales in that store. What effect would these factors have on your recommendation concerning the North Store? Show all computations to support your answer.
